Pimm’s #1 is an English gin based alcohol, that, when mixed with 7-up (the closet thing we have to their ‘lemonade’) and garnished with various fruits such as strawberries, cucumbers, orange slices and lemon peels with sprigs of mint, transforms into a cocktail called a Pimm’s Cup. It’s so light, fruity and refreshing. A perfect drink on a hot summer’s day. And I love it! It’s my tipple of choice!

When I first saw it being served at the Cambridge Folk Festival, I thought it was Sangria, because of all the fruit they had packed into the glasses and pitchers. But this slightly spicy and fruity beverage is much lighter in color and is rather low in alcohol content making it the perfect drink to have when you are having more than one, which is probably why it’s the traditional drink of Wimbledon. Can’t have the fans become too rowdy at a tennis match! (Leave that to the players!) Anywho…

Here’s my first Pimm’s Cup at the folk festival. They served it with a sparkly stick which I used to spear the fruit from the bottom with. Yum!

I bought a large bottle of Pimm’s No.1 at the grocery store in Cambridge and thankfully, it made it home in one piece, safely bubble wrapped and wedged between clothes and cans of foie gras coffee from Paris (shhh!). So I will be making more of these delightful cocktails for the rest of the summer or until my bottle runs dry. Whichever comes first.

Here’s some I made today. I used a lot of fruit. Next time I will try it with Ginger Ale. But the color matches exactly to the original one I had.

Here is the final version. Full of fruit and mint. Light and refreshing. They go down easy. Maybe too easy.

Now make your own:

The Original Pimm’s Cup

In a tall glass over ice, mix 1 part Pimm’s No.1 with 3 parts 7-up

Add

2 lemon peel slices

1 slice of orange

2 fresh strawberries, halved

2 cucumber slices

1 large sprig of mint

Give a stir and serve.

To make a Pimm’s Royale, replace the 7-up with Cava, Champagne or Prosecco and omit all the fruit except the strawberries. Leave out the ice and serve in a champagne glass and you have a brunch cocktail to rival a mimosa.

I had a day of sightseeing in London, so me and about five million other tourists made our way to Buckingham Palace to see the infamous “Changing of the Guard”. I had no idea, really, just how many people there would be there. Not only was I no where near the gates, I was across the street, down the block and behind some rather tall people. However, my trusty Canon G12 in hand, I was able to at least get some shots worth keeping.

The band was rather good. They played several modern day tunes including several from films and musicals and even some by Sir Elton John.

I even got a picture of the guy in front of me videotaping the festivities.

After the guard took their places and final people were moving away from the palace, I meandered down The Mall to the Horse Guard Parade.I do feel for these guys who stand so staunch while all the tourists pose with them. I wonder if they ever just want to crack a smile or make a weird face in the photos. I would.

The funny thing is, when approaching from The Mall, you literally turn the corner right into the horses here. This little sign is on the far side of the archway and it would be a bit too late if you happened to walk smack into the horse. That’s British humor for you!

Crossing the bridge by the Elizabeth Tower lends some lovely views. (It’s not called Big Ben- that is the bell of the clock in the tower formerly known as the Clock Tower. Trivia alert!)

But across the way, you can take Queen’s Walk all the way along the River Thames towards London Bridge and Tower Bridge passing the popular London Eye. It’s really a great way to see a lot of the city and take some some spectacular views and people watching.

How’s this for urban gardening!?! What a great way to use old windows and create raised beds.

There is also some fun for the kids en route.

These are some fun ads I couldn’t pass up. I can just hear the one on the right as the excuse to why one would play hooky from work.

Three bridges, a boat and a train in a row!

I had made my way to the Tate Modern, which is free by the way, and had a look around. I love the MOMA here in NY and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, so I was hoping this would be of the same caliber. It wasn’t. I was a bit let down. But I did have a brilliant time watching life imitate art. Do you see it too?

And my favorite one-

Could they be any more similar? Her bottoms match the bottom of the painting and the colors in her shirt match the top! Uncanny!

I loved the William Eggleston and Graciela Iturbide photography exhibits, along with several of the pieces of art held there, but for the most part, it just was not the best modern art museum I have been to. But I can check it off the list now!

After this full day of sights I was famished! And who woudnt be after walking the entire length of the River Thames. So I met friends for dinner. I suggested a “pub I found by a bridge”.

Turns out, my pub of choice, The Prince Albert Pub, is a gastro pub right at the foot of the Albert Bridge, one of the loveliest painted bridges in all of London! It’s just opposite the Albert Gate entry to Battersea Park and across the bridge from the neighborhood of Chelsea (famous for Princess Di’s gym). Oh, and the food? Superb! Win!

We started with a zesty, fresh and cool gazpacho and a salad of mixed beans with salty, cracked olives and rocket We had the bone in strip steak which was melt in your mouth tender, peppery and topped with a sweet tomato salsa. and there was also a thinly sliced duck breast served over a spicy watermelon salad with chilis and mint. The watermelon had been soaked in lime juice beforehand and it had the most refreshing flavor. Every now and then you’d get a zing from a chili but it was quickly calmed by the cold of the watermelon and the mint and duck combination. I want to recreate this dish for certain. It was so good!

Of course dinner wouldn’t be complete without dessert. A warm brownie with vanilla ice cream and creme brulee is always a good standard dessert. You really can’t go wrong with that!

The best part about eating such a good meal? The walk over the bridge afterwards.

Goodnight London.

The Prince Albert Pub

85 Albert Bridge Road, Battersea,
London SW11 4PF
020 7228 0923

M-F 12-3pm and 6-10pm

Sa 12-4pm and 6-10pm

Su 12-4pm and 6-9pm

You can book online or call for reservations- walk-ins are welcome too.

I have a new favorite spot in Paris. It’s, not surprisingly, a wine bar and restaurant. It’s true that I do enjoy a glass or three of wine from time to time (shh!) and well, food, it’s my comfort zone. If I’m not cooking, I’m eating. And so, this is really the perfect place to find me.

The ever charming, Olivier Magny, owner, sommelier and author of Stuff Parisians Like, a hysterical and snarky look at his fellow Parisians, has created a unique and exciting experience at O-Chateau. He and his incredibly savvy and equally charismatic, business partner and friend, Nicolas Paradis, have taken the hoighty-toighty out of wine education and have made it remarkably accessible and enjoyable for even those who never thought they could learn all that much about wine. From their new home near The Louvre, in a beautifully remodeled storefront, featuring a wine bar and restaurant, a stunning stone wine cellar/tasting room and a large downstairs event space, they provide guided wine tastings throughout the week as well as excursions to several parts of the French wine country.

In a very relaxed atmosphere, with incredibly friendly sommeliers, each tasting provides a wealth of information about wine from all corners of France. You can partake in sessions from one hour tastings to full scale wine tasting lunches or dinners and easily walk away and be able to impress your friends and neighbors back home with everything you have learned. You are certain to smile and laugh and you may even speak a little French when you are done! There are even river cruise tastings and a day trip to the Champagne region will take you through some of France’s most beautiful countryside and quaint villages, all the while mellowly sipping glasses of bubbly.

Prefer to try some wine on your own? Well, at O-Chateau’s wine bar, patrons can sit at the bar and sample from forty different wines housed in the By the Glass refrigeration and dispensing system. In measures of a large sip (3ml) up to a full glass (15ml) you can try red, white and rose wines plus a few Champagnes, all at very affordable prices. During happy hour, from 6-8pm, you can even sample a glass of whatever the house is serving that night for a mere 5 euro. A real steal considering the superior quality of wines offered. They also offer “flights” of wine that have been pre-selected or you can do like I did one night and just start at the top of the wine list and work your way down. I choose 6- 3ml glasses at a time to try and in three turns I had tried every single red wine with the exception of the Petrus. (I am on a budget myself!) With the expert guidance and knowledge imparted by Maxime, the bar manager, I learned something about each wine I tasted (Yes, I took notes!) and now I know exactly what characteristics I prefer in my glass. Not to mention, it was great fun to try so many at once! (Afterwards, I had mustered up enough courage and took a ride on the nearby famous Paris ferris wheel, La Grande Roue, and wasn’t even afraid of the heights! I’ve since taken a daytime ride as well and have to say that the wine helped! In my defense, it was a very windy day and the swinging car didn’t go over well with me. Another story!)

As usually happens, you may become hungry while appraising your beverage. You can order from the bar menu where you’ll be served wooden boards overflowing with premium cheeses or charcuterie. They are far too much for just one person to eat on their own, but sharing with your barmates or friends is ideal. Small plates, like the simple but elegant bruschetta , foie gras or the generous slices of the exquisitely sweet, salty and slighty nutty Bellota ham served with slices of fresh baguettes are perfect accompaniments as well. Or if you are really daring, you can just have dessert!

Each evening, the restaurant serves a set three course menu featuring only the freshest, seasonal ingredients available for just 32euro. You can turn that menu into a full “Tasting Menu” (65euro) which includes 3 wines and 1 Champagne thoughtfully chosen by an expert sommelier to match your meal. This is a real bargain given the excellence of each handcrafted menu item. Of course, if you so desire, you can also indulge in each course ala carte; appetizer (11euro), main course (17euro) and dessert (7euro). You don’t have to break the bank in order to have a marvelous meal with wine here.

My first dining experience at O-Chateau came on New Year’s Eve when I booked to attend their gala event, a wine tasting dinner and party. O-Chateau’s dynamic and extremely talented Executive Chef, Campbell Whitman created a stellar menu for the night. Hailing originally from California where she was a personal chef, Whitman is also the daughter of Old Creek Ranch Winery owners and a Cordon Bleu, Paris graduate. When she isn’t designing delectable dishes for O- Chateau, she can be found writing her blog, Boots for Breakfast.

My seat for the evening was barside and I was promptly granted a lovely glass of Champagne Grand Cru from Pierre Paillard. Sipping champagne and listening to the cool jazz playing on the sound system set a terrific tempo for inaugurating the night’s events. By now I had been to O-Chateau on a few occasions so it was nice to be recognized and welcomed so graciously.

The appetizer of Duck Foie Gras soon arrived, topped with Fleur del Sel de Guerande and Fig Preserves, providing a perfect bite of gently bitter pate, sweet fruit and a touch of salt in every mouth-watering morsel. The course was paired with a glass of Domaine de Souch 2009 vintage from a small vineyard in the South West region of France called Jurancon, in the Pyrenees. Wine producer Yvonne Hegoburu, who is now 85 years young, began making Domaine de Souch in 1987 when she was 60 years old as a tribute to her late husband Rene, and is now said to have one of the best wines in the entire Jurancon appellation. Impressive!

The main entrée featured a delicate piece of Salmon filet swathed in a velvety caper cream sauce teamed with a light and airy broccoli soufflé and paired with an unlikely glass of red wine- Gevrey Chambertin “Cuvee Ostrea” 2009 from Domaine JL Trapet in the Burgundy region. I would have thought that the structure and texture of this wine would have been too overpowering for such a light dish, but I stand corrected. The elements of red fruits, cherry and plums provided a lovely sappiness that complemented the acidity of the sauce and nicely balanced the entire course, debunking, yet again, that myth that fish only pairs well with white wine.

By now the music was picking up and the atmosphere was turning much more “party” like but not into full swing before the dessert arrived. A chocolate bomb, or as the menu referred to it, La Flocon de Pierre Herme, a thousand times richer and more divine! Creamy, heavenly chocolate goodness in every forkful. Of course, saying it in French helps too!

The rest of the evening was brimming with music, singing, a cabaret performance and lots of dancing. Everyone had a fun night filled with laughter and happiness. And as they say in Vegas, “What happens in Paris, stays in Paris”.

My second meal at O-Chateau was prepared by Habiybah Washington, who also attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and is a former, fellow New Yorker. She created not only one of my favorite meals at O-Chateau, but also the best meal of my entire stay in Paris so far. Simple a dish as it may seem; a filet, broccoli and potatoes gratin dauphinois, I have experienced my share of nearly inedible filets here in Paris. There have been fatty ones, thin ones and dry, chewy, leathery, tasteless ones. All at a rather expensive price too. This filet, however, stood out against all the rest. It was seasoned perfectly, accompanied by a luscious mustard cream sauce, temperature right on the money, medium rare, not too bleu and not too brown. A beautiful shade of pink! There also was not a single bite of that horrid gristle anywhere, thus avoiding that awkward moment when you have to decide if you will choke to death if you swallow it or risk embarrassment by spitting it into your napkin. Every single bite literally melted in your mouth. Silky, tender and juicy-just as a filet should be.

One of my favorite comfort foods is gratin potatoes and they are really easy to mess up. Overcooked, the dish becomes very dry and grainy. Undercooked, its just hard pellets of potato and unmelted cheese swimming in sauce floating around your mouth. Not very appetizing! But these potatoes were soft, creamy and smooth with hints of pepper, nutmeg and that delightful, rich cheesy tang. I was lucky enough to have an end slice, where the cheese on top crisps ever so around the edge providing a sexy mouthful of textural contrasts. I soaked up all the remaining sauce with the broccoli and devoured everything on my entire plate. Had I been alone at home… well, lets just say they wouldn’t have to scrape my plate that much. I seriously could have easily eaten two servings and not have been ashamed of myself!

I’ve returned to O-Chateau a few evenings since and it has sort of become my “Cheers” in Paris. If I’ve been out touring all day and I am nearby, I’ll pop in and have a seat for a while, a glass of wine and either a snack or dinner. As a solo traveler it’s a great place to just relax at the bar and chat with the sommelier who’ll not only guide you through O-Chateau’ menu with precision and care and provide recommendations you are sure to love but will also make you feel very welcome and a part of the O-Chateau family.